Our best bet for Sunday’s NRL Grand Final between the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights is the Roosters to Win / Nawaqanitawase to Score / Young to Score Same Game Multi at $6.25, with Sydney winning their last two finals by 16+ and Dominic Young scoring in every finals match this year.

The 2026 NRL reaches its crescendo this Sunday at Accor Stadium in Sydney, with the Roosters taking on the Knights in the Grand Final.

Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights

After falling in a tight Qualifying Final three weeks ago, Sydney have sailed through their last two finals matches.

They put Cronulla to the sword 46-10 in the semis, before ending the Dolphins’ season 36-20 last weekend.

Newcastle have had a far nervier time, coming from seventh on the ladder to book their first Grand Final since 2001.

The Knights edged out the Rabbitohs 20-10 in their opening Elimination Final, upset the Warriors 12-10 in Auckland, then stunned the table-topping Panthers 22-14 most recently.

Leg 1 – Roosters to Win

The heart wants Newcastle’s fairytale to continue, but the head says this Sunday is a bridge too far for them.

Phoenix Crossland’s four-week ban for hip-dropping on Nathan Cleary is a big blow to the Knights’ chances.

Combine that with a shorter recovery time, three tight games on the bounce and an 0-6 head-to-head against Sydney since 2022, and all signs point towards a Roosters win.

Leg 2 – Mark Nawaqanitawase to Score

Nawaqanitawase has come through for this column in our last two multis on Roosters games.

The Sydney winger is in prolific form, scoring 20 tries from 22 matches this season including five in this finals series alone.

It’s hard to see him staying out of the action across 80 minutes at Accor Stadium this Sunday, particularly considering it’s his last game in the NRL before code-hopping again.

Leg 3 – Dominic Young to Score

Young is Newcastle’s version of Nawaqanitawase. He’s scored in every finals match this year, has eight tries from his last eight matches and is at 23 tries for the season.

The dreadlocked winger has raw pace and is brilliant under the high ball. Expect the Knights to go to him heavily on attack, where he should add to his tally regardless of how this match plays out.

Same Game Multi

Roosters to Win / Nawaqanitawase to Score / Young to Score = $6.25

Value Bet

The Knights have consistently punched above their weight the past three weeks, but it’s hard to avoid the thought that they played their Grand Final last week.

They’re inexperienced and depleted, up against a side that is in red-hot form and has plenty of experience on the big stage.

Sydney have won their last two finals matches by 16+, and if the Knights arrive with anything but a full tank, they could well do so again.

Roosters 16+ @ $3.00

Our best bet for Sunday’s NRL Preliminary Final between the Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights is the Panthers -10.5 / Over 41.5 / Each Team Over 12.5 Same Game Multi at $5.50, with Penrith’s last two meetings against the Knights producing totals of 56 and 60 points and Newcastle yet to score less than 12 points in any game this season.

Sunday delivers an unexpected Preliminary Final, with the seventh-placed Knights taking on table-toppers Penrith at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights

Newcastle have been the story of the finals so far, pulling off back-to-back upsets against the Rabbitohs and Warriors to make this season’s last four.

This weekend is their biggest ask so far, however, with the Panthers having had a week off after dispatching the Roosters 19-12 in their Qualifying Final.

The big news is that Nathan Cleary will play this match, despite the Penrith pivot suffering a foot injury against Sydney a fortnight ago.

Leg 1 – Panthers -10.5

This should be where the Knights’ luck runs out. The fact that they’ve even made it this far hinged on several contentious calls last week.

Expect the Panthers to expose a gulf in quality this weekend.

Last time they played, in April this year, it was a 44-12 drubbing in Penrith’s favour.

With the amount of finals experience the hosts have, five Grand Finals in six years, it’s hard to not see them overwhelming an out-of-depth Newcastle here.

Leg 2 – Over 41.5 Points Total

The past two clashes between Newcastle and Penrith have produced totals of 56 and 60 points, courtesy of the Panthers racking up big scores.

While the Knights will no doubt be competitive initially, this feels like a bridge too far and they should fade in the second half. Expect the clinical Panthers to pounce when this happens and push the line well past 41.5 points.

Leg 3 – Each Team Over 12.5

Newcastle won’t go down without a fight. Their attack is just too sharp.

Across the 26 matches they’ve played this season, at no point have they scored less than 12 points.

Even in defeat, they have a habit of picking up tries, which should be the case in this one too.

Same Game Multi

Panthers -10.5 / Over 41.5 / Each Team Over 12.5 = $5.50

Value Bet

Jenkins, Young and Marzhew are three of the top four tryscorers in the 2026 NRL, with 76 tries between them this season.

All three play out on the edge and are critical to their team’s attack.

Young and Marzhew both have five tries in their last five matches. While Jenkins has been quieter with just two, he’ll have the most chances of the three given Penrith’s likely domination of this game.

Expect most of the game’s action to come from this trio.

Jenkins, Young and Marzhew to Combine for 3+ Tries @ $3.80

Our best bet for Friday’s NRL Preliminary Final between the Dolphins and Sydney Roosters is the Dolphins to Win / Tabuai-Fidow to Score / Nawaqanitawase to Score Same Game Multi at $7.75, with the Dolphins on an eight-match win streak and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scoring three tries in his last two games.

The first of this weekend’s Preliminary Finals takes place at Suncorp Stadium, with the in-form Dolphins hosting the Roosters on Friday night.

Dolphins vs Sydney Roosters

The Dolphins are the form team of the NRL right now, having won eight matches on the bounce to book their place in the season’s final four.

They’ll be well rested after beating the Warriors a fortnight ago, 26-16 in Auckland, and getting last weekend off as a result.

Sydney, on the other hand, have come the long way to this match, losing their Qualifying Final to Penrith, their fourth straight loss, before thrashing the Sharks 46-10 last week.

Leg 1 – Dolphins to Win

All signs point towards the home side winning here.

The Dolphins prevailed in both of the regular-season meetings between these two teams, winning 48-10 in June then 26-12 less than a month ago.

They’re full of confidence thanks to a red-hot backline and an eight-match win streak, and will have a packed Suncorp cheering them on.

Against a Roosters side that have won just once in their last five matches, it’s hard to see the Dolphins stumbling.

Leg 2 – Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to Score

Look back over this column’s tips on the Dolphins’ matches and you’ll see Tabuai-Fidow has been a regular performer.

The Dolphins’ fullback has three tries in his last two games and 14 for the season, plus a try in each Origin match.

He’s elusive, opportunistic and loves a big game. Matches like this are where he plays his best.

Leg 3 – Mark Nawaqanitawase to Score

The same can be said for Nawaqanitawase. The Roosters’ winger almost single-handedly beat the Panthers a fortnight ago, snaffling some incredible intercepts and always threatening down the edge.

He’ll know the same kind of magic is required if Sydney are to pull off an upset, and is likely to rise to the challenge.

Nawaqanitawase has been prolific at getting to the tryline this season, dotting down 18 times in 21 matches, including twice last week.

Same Game Multi

Dolphins to Win / Tabuai-Fidow to Score / Nawaqanitawase to Score = $7.75

Value Bet

The Dolphins love a beatdown. 11 of their 17 wins in the regular season came by 13+, including both times they played the Roosters this year.

Yes, this is finals footy, so there’s a tendency for things to tighten up. That said, the Dolphins still scored 26 points in their opening win against the Warriors.

There’s certainly a world where they put the Roosters to the sword here.

Dolphins 13+ @ $3.45

Our best bet for Sunday’s NRL Semi-Final between the New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights is the Warriors -6.5 / Over 44.5 / Young to Score Same Game Multi at $7.50, with New Zealand winning their last four straight against the Knights and both sides averaging well over 44.5 points in their recent meetings.

The Warriors look to bounce back from a tough loss last week as they host the Knights at Eden Park in the second NRL Semi-Final this Sunday.

New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights

After coming within a whisker of securing the Minor Premiership, New Zealand are now teetering on the edge of disaster after losing their Qualifying Final against the Dolphins last week.

They do receive some notable reinforcements for this match, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Leka Halasima returning, though Jackson Ford has been ruled out.

The Knights kept their hopes alive by executing an upset of their own last week, tipping over the sixth-placed Rabbitohs to earn a crack at the Preliminary Finals here.

Leg 1 – Warriors -6.5

These two sides played in the penultimate round of the regular season, with the Warriors coming out on top 46-32.

This was in line with the recent Kiwi domination of this head-to-head, where New Zealand have won the last four straight, including 38-12 earlier in the season.

The Knights did well to scratch past the Rabbitohs last week, but look largely spent this season. A remotivated Warriors side desperate to avoid embarrassment in front of the sold-out Eden Park should put them to the sword.

Leg 2 – Over 44.5 Points Total

Conventional wisdom says that finals footy will be low scoring, but not when these two are involved.

Their two meetings this season have seen 78 and 50 points scored, while each side had crossed the 44.5-point line in their four matches leading into last week.

Neither club has rock-solid defence, yet both are laden with attacking threats, exactly the recipe for a high-scoring clash.

Leg 3 – Dominic Young to Score

The Warriors have had leaky edge defence in the latter half of the season, something the Dolphins capitalised on in their victory last Saturday.

Young is a clinical finisher, having scored 21 times in 24 appearances this year, including six tries in his last six starts.

Given this clash is shaping up to be high scoring, the Knights’ winger crossing over at some stage is to be expected.

Same Game Multi

Warriors -6.5 / Over 44.5 / Young to Score = $7.50

Value Bet

Watene-Zelezniak has been sidelined since Round 25 with a broken collar bone, and will be chomping at the bit to return and help get his side into the Preliminary Finals.

He’s been brilliant in the matches he has played, scoring 20 tries from 21 matches, including in his last two.

The Warriors’ winger thrives on the big stage, so expect him to turn it on for the home crowd and come away with a brace.

Watene-Zelezniak to Score 2 Tries @ $5.00

Our best bet for Saturday’s NRL Semi-Final between the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks is the Roosters to Win / Under 45.5 / Nawaqanitawase to Score Same Game Multi at $5.35, with Sydney beating Cronulla twice this season and Mark Nawaqanitawase in outstanding form after last week’s Qualifying Final performance.

The Roosters and Sharks clash this Saturday at Allianz Stadium in Sydney with a spot in the NRL Preliminary Finals on the line.

Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks

Opening week of the NRL finals played out as expected for both Sydney and Cronulla.

The Roosters took on top dogs Penrith and played them tight, but ultimately fell short 19-12.

The Sharks had the eighth-placed North Queensland to reckon with, who they saw off with relative ease, winning 26-16.

Leg 1 – Roosters to Win

Despite now having lost four matches in a row, Sydney looked better last week against the Panthers.

They were right in the mix up until Brian To’o’s try in the dying minutes, and looked like the team that finished third on the ladder.

The Roosters have had success against Cronulla this year, beating them 27-8 and 34-22.

The visitors aren’t exactly in fine form themselves, with that win over the Cowboys only their second victory in six matches.

Leg 2 – Under 45.5 Points Total

Despite this column’s predictions, all four of last week’s finals fell under the line, with the highest scoring match seeing just 42 points.

Expect a similarly low-scoring match here, particularly given the Roosters’ track record. They’ve scored 20 or less in five of their last six.

Leg 3 – Mark Nawaqanitawase to Score

Large parts of last week’s Qualifying Final were Nawaqanitawase vs the Panthers.

The Roosters’ winger played out of his skin, constantly threatening the Penrith line on attack and via intercept. He scored once for his efforts, taking his season tally to 16.

If the Roosters are to get past the Sharks here, Nawaqanitawase will have to have another blinder.

Same Game Multi

Roosters to Win / Under 45.5 / Nawaqanitawase to Score = $5.35

Value Bet

Four of the Roosters’ last five wins have come by 1-12.

Considering this is finals footy and Sydney will look to play a tight, defence-first style, it’s very unlikely this match ends in a blowout.

Roosters 1-12 @ $3.15

Our best bet for Sunday’s NRL Qualifying Final between the Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters is the Panthers to Win / Under 48.5 / Tupou to Score Same Game Multi at $6.50, with Penrith securing the Minor Premiership and Daniel Tupou scoring five tries in his last four matches.

The opening weekend of NRL finals concludes with a blockbuster between the Panthers and Roosters at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Sunday evening.

Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters

These two sides enter this clash in polar-opposite form, Penrith having won three straight and Sydney having lost three.

However, when they played a month ago in a dress rehearsal of this match, it was the Roosters who prevailed 12-6.

Leg 1 – Panthers to Win

Don’t expect a repeat of last month’s result when these teams meet on Sunday.

The Panthers have gone through a bit of a rut the past two months, however they’ve still secured the Minor Premiership and are in the box seat for the business end of the season.

This is where they play their best footy, and up against a side that looks to be wilting, expect them to stroll to victory.

Leg 2 – Under 48.5 Points Total

Penrith should control this game, but it’s unlikely to be high-scoring. That’s just not how the Panthers do finals.

Their most recent meeting produced just 18 points. With the Penrith defence turning the screws and Sydney not exactly playing expansive rugby league right now, expect a similarly low scoreline.

Leg 3 – Daniel Tupou to Score

Tupou is one of the few Roosters to back up this week, after they heavily rotated their side for the final match of the season.

The big Sydney winger is in excellent form, with 13 tries from 14 matches this season, including five in his last four.

Last week he was sharp, crossing over for the Roosters’ opening try. Expect him to be a key part of their attack on Sunday again.

Same Game Multi

Panthers to Win / Under 48.5 / Tupou to Score = $6.50

Value Bet

There’s good value in backing a 1-12 Panthers win here. They’re priced to win this 13+, but there’s little reason to believe this one will be a blowout.

Yes, the Roosters have fallen off the pace in recent weeks, but a resurgence is expected from them now that we’re into finals footy.

They’ve shown as recently as last month that they can match Penrith in their tight, gritty style of play, which is exactly what we should see again in this clash.

Panthers 1-12 @ $3.10

Our best bet for Friday’s NRL Elimination Final between South Sydney and Newcastle is the Rabbitohs to Win / Over 47.5 / Fifita to Score Same Game Multi at $5.25, with the Rabbitohs winning four of their last five and nine of their last ten games exceeding 47.5 points.

The Rabbitohs and Knights clash in the first of four NRL finals this weekend, with both teams putting their seasons on the line in this Elimination Final at Allianz Stadium on Friday.

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights

Sixth plays seventh on Friday night, but it’s the Rabbitohs who bring the better form into this knockout match.

South Sydney have won their last two, against the Roosters and Titans, and four of their last five.

The Knights, on the other hand, have limped their way into playoff footy, losing back-to-back matches to the Warriors and Sea Eagles.

Leg 1 – Rabbitohs to Win

These are two sides headed in different directions, and this kind of momentum matters when it comes to finals.

The Rabbitohs have been firing on all cylinders, scoring 92 points across the past fortnight. Things couldn’t be more opposite for the Knights, who have leaked 90 in their last two.

South Sydney should get over the line here, as they did when these sides met in July.

Leg 2 – Over 47.5 Points Total

The Rabbitohs are notorious for high-scoring affairs, with nine of their last ten games exceeding the 47.5-point mark.

Newcastle are the one team that can rival them on this front. They haven’t had a match with less than 50 points since August 1.

The pressure of the moment may well see things tighten up a little for both teams, but their track records are loose enough that we should still see plenty of points.

Leg 3 – David Fifita to Score

Fifita has rounded into form at the right time this season, scoring three times in four matches, including his last two.

The Rabbitohs’ second-rower gets great ball off both Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell up the middle of the field.

Against a porous defence like Newcastle’s, and with plenty of experience behind him, expect Fifita to cross over again.

Same Game Multi

Rabbitohs to Win / Over 47.5 / Fifita to Score = $5.25

Value Bet

South Sydney are priced to win this one 13+, but the pressure of the moment should restrict their winning margin to 1-12.

A tight start to the match is to be expected, while Newcastle will throw the kitchen sink at the Rabbitohs late in the game once they find themselves behind.

Rabbitohs 1-12 @ $3.15

Our best bet for Saturday’s NRL Elimination Final between the Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys is the Sharks to Win / Under 47.5 / Mulitalo to Score Same Game Multi at $5.10, with Cronulla’s first-choice halves pairing back and Ronaldo Mulitalo scoring in each of the Sharks’ last five wins.

One team’s season will end on Saturday night, as the Sharks host the Cowboys in the second NRL Elimination Final at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys

This is the toughest of the finals to call this weekend, with both teams bringing highly mercurial track records into this clash.

Cronulla were on track for a top-four finish before losing four of their last five, including their most recent two.

The Cowboys have been similarly patchy, losing three of their last five, bookended by an 82-12 loss to the Roosters in July and a 50-30 defeat to the Raiders most recently.

Leg 1 – Sharks to Win

There isn’t much in this one, but two factors point towards the Sharks getting over the line here.

First, they’ve got their first-choice halves pairing back in Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes. These two are integral to Cronulla’s attack, and when firing, are far superior to the Cowboys’ pivots.

Second, there’s some positive recent history for the Sharks when it comes to these two sides playing in NRL finals. They met in the semis two years ago, with Cronulla prevailing 26-18.

Leg 2 – Under 47.5 Points Total

Both teams have had their fair share of high-scoring matches in recent weeks, but this one should buck that trend.

Each will know they have a genuine shot at scratching their way to week two of the finals, despite being in poor form.

Expect this to create a scrappy, tight match where both sides struggle to handle the pressure at times.

Leg 3 – Ronaldo Mulitalo to Score

Mulitalo has been an excellent tryscorer bet in this column over the 2026 season.

The Sharks’ winger has 12 tries in just 15 matches so far this year, including in each of Cronulla’s last five wins.

Same Game Multi

Sharks to Win / Under 47.5 / Mulitalo to Score = $5.10

Value Bet

There’s no denying this match is a toss up, so picking the Cowboys to win 1-12 is a good way of offsetting the above multi.

North Queensland won their most recent meeting 46-34 and have the attack to beat any team when it’s firing.

They’ll come into this clash with the least expectation of the two sides, and could well pull off an upset if they’re able to play their best footy.

Cowboys 1-12 @ $4.20

Our best bet for Saturday’s NRL Qualifying Final between the New Zealand Warriors and Dolphins is the Warriors to Win / Over 46.5 / Tabuai-Fidow to Score Same Game Multi at $6.75, with the Warriors on a six-match win streak and five of their last six games producing 46 or more points.

Saturday night in Auckland sees second play third, as the Warriors host the Dolphins for the first NRL Qualifying Final of 2026.

New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins

Both teams bring plenty of form into this clash, with the Warriors riding a six-match win streak and the Dolphins sitting one better at seven straight.

Each was a little shaky last week, as New Zealand scraped past the Sea Eagles thanks to a late Chanel Harris-Tavita field goal, while the Dolphins held out the Titans for a 24-20 victory.

Leg 1 – Warriors to Win

The Warriors have been the form team of the competition the past two months, and it’s hard to see them dropping this one in front of a packed out crowd.

They’ve had defensive issues at times the last month, which the Dolphins’ sharp attack will exploit. However, where they’ve lacked in defence they’ve made up for in attack of their own.

Expect them to give the Auckland faithful the opening final victory they’re after on Saturday.

Leg 2 – Over 46.5 Points Total

Five of the Warriors’ last six matches have seen 46 or more points scored, including each of their last four.

This comes off the back of New Zealand’s relentless attack. We’re talking scores of 31, 46, 45 and 40, combined with their momentary defensive lapses.

Given how potent the Dolphins are with the ball in hand, it’s highly unlikely this unfolds as a low-scoring grind.

Leg 3 – Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to Score

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Tabuai-Fidow thrives in big matches, as evidenced by his tries in each of this year’s Origin matches.

He’s central to the Dolphins’ attack and has already scored 13 times this season, including a double last week.

Given how leaky the Warriors have been on defence, the Dolphins’ fullback should find his way over at some stage.

Same Game Multi

Warriors to Win / Over 46.5 / Tabuai-Fidow to Score = $6.75

Value Bet

The last two meetings between these sides have been razor tight, with margins of two points in each match.

Despite the Warriors’ home advantage and brilliant form, it’s tough to see them running away with this one for the full 80 minutes. They’ve consistently taken their foot off the throat in recent matches, which should allow this one to finish 1-12 on Saturday.

Warriors 1-12 @ $3.15

Our best bet for Sunday’s NRL Round 27 clash between the Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers is the Tigers +19.5 / Under 48.5 / Jenkins to Score Same Game Multi at $5.60, with seven of the last nine meetings seeing the Tigers cover the spread and Thomas Jenkins overdue for a try after four scoreless weeks.

Two teams on opposing ends of the NRL ladder meet in the final match of the regular season this Sunday, with the Panthers hosting the Tigers at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.

Penrith Panthers vs Wests Tigers

Penrith have a top-two spot confirmed already, but have opted to keep momentum going and field a full strength side for this fixture.

They’ve won back-to-back matches coming into this round, overcoming a late season wobble which saw them lose five of eight dating back to mid-June.

For the Tigers, their season was over weeks ago. Wests began well winning six of their first eight, but since then have only been able to add two victories, one of which was a fortnight ago against the table-topping Roosters.

Leg 1 – Tigers +19.5

Despite the regular gap between these two teams on the table, matches between the Tigers and Panthers have traditionally been tight.

Seven of the last nine have seen the Tigers cover the +19.5-point spread, the notable omission being earlier this year when they were shellacked 68-0.

Motivation is a big factor here, however. The Panthers have nothing to play for and will have an eye on the finals next week, while the Tigers know this is their final 80 minutes of the season and will be eager to finish strong.

Leg 2 – Under 48.5 Points Total

Bar their most recent meeting, the preceding 15 games between these two saw less than 48.5 points scored.

Neither team is known for racking up big scorelines as a rule of thumb. Penrith average 16 points over their last four, while the Tigers are at 17.5.

Leg 3 – Thomas Jenkins to Score

Jenkins is one of Penrith’s key finishers, crossing over 28 times in 2026.

He’s cooled slightly in recent weeks, not scoring for four weeks at present. This is the longest he’s gone without a try all year, so it’s hard to see him staying out of the action for another week.

Same Game Multi

Tigers +19.5 / Under 48.5 / Jenkins to Score = $5.60

Value Bet

If the Panthers are tentative and down on motivation, while the Tigers are pumped up and emptying the tank, there’s a world where this finishes as a relatively narrow win for Penrith.

It’s not a foregone conclusion, hence the healthy odds, but there’s value here for those willing to take a stab.

Panthers 1-12 @ $4.20